Wildfire razes vast tracts of northeast Australia

In this image made from aerial video taken Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2018, burned out vehicles are seen on a scorched landscape in the Deepwater area of Queensland, Australia. Officials say nearly fifty thousand acres have been destroyed thus far. (Pool Photo via AP)

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — A wildfire stoked by heatwave conditions in northeast Australia has destroyed at least four homes, forced the evacuation of hundreds of others and razed 20,000 hectares (49,000 acres) of farmland and…

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — A wildfire stoked by heatwave conditions in northeast Australia has destroyed at least four homes, forced the evacuation of hundreds of others and razed 20,000 hectares (49,000 acres) of farmland and woodland, authorities said Tuesday.

Police had been knocking on doors of homes in the small rural communities of Baffle Creek, Deepwater, Oyster Creek and Rules Beach in Queensland state to advise residents to evacuate but some were refusing, Gladstone Region Mayor Matt Burnett said.

“When you have a police officer knock at your door saying a fire is coming, it is time to get out — it’s serious,” Burnett said. “There is no one in that area that is safe to stay,” he added.